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The variety of mouthwatering dishes you can make with pumpkin is endless. From raviolis, pies and breads to risottos and beers, there are just so many things that can be made using pumpkin as the main ingredient. You can also eat oven roasted pumpkin as a delicious desert. Pumpkins are a good source of Vitamin A, fiber and many other vitamins and minerals. It is not just tasty when included in the meals, but it also packs a healthy punch. Here is a glance at the 7 impressive health benefits of pumpkin.

1. Improves vision

One cup of cooked pumpkin provides more than 200% of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin A and as suggested by health professionals, Vitamin A is vital for eyesight protection.

2. Aids in weight loss

Have you been struggling to get rid of the extra weight? Now you can easily lose weight and get in shape by incorporating pumpkin in your diet. Pumpkin contains fiber which not only helps in digestion, but also helps you feel fuller for longer. Pumpkin also contains fewer calories making it easy to achieve your weight loss goals. Read more

If you are given the chance to choose a spice that can improve your well being and help you lead a healthier and longer life, then a good choice for you would be turmeric. Turmeric powder is bright yellow in color and it is made by grinding mature turmeric rhizomes. It is mostly used in curries for coloring and flavoring, but it is also commonly used for medicinal and cosmetic reasons. One tablespoon of turmeric powder has about 24 calories with no cholesterol. It also contains high levels of magnesium, potassium, iron, fiber and vitamin B6. Turmeric powder can be purchased from Indian and Chinese supermarkets. The spice is used in almost every Indian curry, pickles and mustards. Here’s a look at the 5 amazing reasons you must include turmeric in your diet every day.

Relieves Arthritis

Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties which are great for treating rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. This spice also contain antioxidants which helps the body get rid of free radicals. A number of studies have shown that individuals who eat turmeric regularly experience great relief from joint inflammation and mild to moderate joint pains. In fact, turmeric is more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs. Read more

A delicious fruit that you can eat to quench your thirst and at the same time revitalize your body with Vitamin A and anti-oxidant lycopene is watermelon. These melons are so juicy and tasty that they have everything you need to beat the summer heat. They are high in water content and are also packed with electrolytes, making them the perfect fruit for hot summers. These delicious fruits owe their red color to lycopene, which is an antioxidant that is also commonly found in tomatoes.

Over the years, researches and studies have shown that lycopene plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health. There are many more delicious health benefits of watermelon which we are going to take a look at in this article.

Reduces inflammation

On the website of The World’s Healthiest Foods, you can find watermelon in the top 100 list. The name appears right up with superfoods like salmon, walnuts and pumpkin seeds. Because watermelons are rich in lycopene, it can prevent conditions like arthritis from getting worse. It can also lower chronic inflammation that are mostly aggravated by stress, pollution and smoking. Read more

When the evolutionary march from the four legged species to the two legged ones took place, the human body was designed to be mobile and not sedentary. But, the kind of lifestyle that many people have today, they tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle. No matter where people go, there are more opportunities to sit down than to stand up. When you go to school, there are desks and chairs. The same is the case when you go to office. And then the car and the comfortable chair you have at home for watching TV. Because most of the job that humans do require them to sit, it is quite difficult to break the cycle.

According to a number of studies and researches, the sedentary lifestyle that you live is destructive to your overall well being. In fact, it is said that sitting has become the new smoking and anyone who sits for more than six hours a day is at an increased risk of suffering health problems and even death.

The truth about sitting

After the evolution to the two legged species, most of the lives of humans were spent hunting and farming. Humans were on their feet most of the time which enabled them to carry on with the day to day lives. But with the advent of the internet and television, people are sitting for more than ever. On average, humans are sitting for about 9.5 hours which is even more than sleeping. So how much time is really spent standing up or on the feet? Very little and this is a fact that is taking a toll on human’s modern life today. Read more

One of the most hated vegetable in the world is Brussels sprouts and one of the reasons for this is their notorious smell. They have an offensive odor, but most people don’t realize that this odor comes from overcooking the vegetable. When cooked right, these tiny nutritional powerhouses are both tasty and healthy. Proper cooking also helps preserve their nutrients and flavors. Brussels sprouts are also low in calories which make them the ideal food for weight loss. One cup contains only about 56 calories.

Including Brussels sprouts in your diet can offer numerous health benefits. Since they are packed with minerals, vitamins and nutrients, they can provide protection against many diseases and ailments. Here’s a look at some of the health benefits of Brussels sprouts.

Helps fight cancer

Brussels sprouts are a cruciferous vegetable which means that it is naturally associated with reducing the risk of cancer. According to a number of studies, the sulfur containing compounds contained in Brussels sprouts are powerful when it comes to fighting cancer. These compounds can help impede or delay different types of cancer such as melanoma, prostrate, pancreatic and even esophageal cancer. Read more

You granny was right after all. The soup is one of the best foods you can get. Let’s face it, soup is delicious, healthy, it makes you feel full, and can help you when having a cold. Soups are high in nutrients and low in fat and calories what makes them a great meal addition. They are the perfect food for weight loss as well.

Anyway, these days with so many varieties and packing types of soups, it is quite hard to distinguish the healthy soups form the once that are not (so) healthy. Although canned soups claim that they are the healthiest, they contain ingredients that make them unhealthy for one or more reasons. If you want to eat clean, have fitness goals or if you are on a weight loss plan, it is important for you to avoid the unhealthy varieties and only choose those which offer health benefits. Let’s take a look at healthy and unhealthy soups so you know which ones to avoid.

Homemade Soup (Healthy Choice)

A pot of homemade soup is a great alternative to a full dinner. It may take some time for you to make your own soup at home, but you must keep in mind that it gives you control over the ingredients you add and the method of cooking you choose. When compared to canned soup, homemade soup is healthier and cheaper too and if you cook a large batch, you can easily freeze them to be eaten later. When you cook soup at home, you can make them healthier by adding more fiber and skipping the salt. Read more

Radishes are an edible root vegetable which comes from the same family as cabbages, kale and broccoli. The vegetable can be eaten raw and it can also be cooked. Many people soak them in cold water to retain the crunchiness and freshness of the vegetable. Radishes are eaten all around the world and since they grow very fast, they are widely available and are highly affordable. But although it is a common vegetable, it is one of the most ignored as well.

Most people don’t realize the benefits radishes have to offer. Apart from the satisfying crunch and natural zing they offer, radishes also provide benefits for skin, hair and health and this is the reason, it is essential to make them a part of your diet. Given below are some of the fascinating benefits of eating radish.

Promotes healthy skin

Radish has cleansing properties as well and you can even apply the juice of raw radish on your skin to get younger looking skin. Since radish is a rich source of antioxidants and Vitamin C, it can prevent skin damage from free radicals as well. Read more

We can often hear advice by nutritionists like “eat frequent but small meals”, “don’t starve” or “don’t skip breakfast“, but it turns out that fasting offers a number of health benefits. It not only reduces risk of cancer and improves cardiovascular health, but it also promotes longevity and gene repair. It is quite true that when a person is in “feast mode,” the body forgoes much of the natural rejuvenation and repair programming. It is also true that most of the disease processes that are initiated in the body are a result of eating too frequently.

When the body is subjected to severe calorie restriction, a person is able to achieve weight loss, but for most people a starvation diet is not an appealing approach for weight loss. But, a number of studies have suggested that a method called “intermittent fasting” can offer the same benefits without causing any health problems. In the olden days, our ancestors did not have access to food all the time. There were no grocery stores and they would eat only at particular times. According to research, this kind of eating habit offers biochemical benefits to the body.

So, is intermittent fasting for you? Does intermittent fasting really work? What kind of health benefits are there when you use this approach? Let’s a take a look at what intermittent fasting really is and whether it offers real benefits. Read more

You may have heard that eating more fiber is good for health. But what is fiber and why is it good?

Fiber is present in many vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains. It is a component of food that is good for relieving constipation. Other than this, there are many health benefits of including more fiber in the diet and it is also not hard to select tasty foods which are rich in fiber. Fiber is not digested by the body. Instead it is passed intact through the stomach to the small intestine and colon and out of the body. Fiber can be classified as soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is present in apples, carrots, citrus fruits, peas, oats and beans. It dissolves in water. On the other hand, insoluble fiber aids in digestion and is commonly found in potatoes, cauliflower, green beans, wheat bran, whole wheat flour and nuts. Some of the important health benefits of fiber are mentioned below.

1. Promotes heart health

A number of studies have suggested that eating more fiber can promote heart health and prevent diseases related to the heart.

2. Prevents cancer

Including foods high in fiber in the diet can provide protection against many different types of cancers including colon, uterine, ovarian and breast cancer. Read more

Everyday you do things to keep yourself, your family and your environment safe. You eat right, exercise, recycle and do so much more. But sometimes, it is the simple things you forget you do that have the most impact on your health and environment. Recently, there has been news about the harmful effects of plastic. Plastics are everywhere and they are used on a daily basis. Whether it is your lunch box, drinking bottle, storage containers or carry bags, they are mostly made of plastic. Plastics are being used in a number of ways and they are available in many varieties. But the problem is that some of them contain toxic substances that can influence their properties such as hardness, texture and color. These properties are changed by manufacturers to reduce cost of the item or to improve its performance, although it is clear that the substances or additives being present in plastics can cause harm. Read more